Fort Knox joins the Space Race

1 / 4Show Caption +Hide Caption –NASA photoAble, a seven pound rhesus monkey, is seen in her fiberglass couch being prepared for placement into a capsule for a preflight test of Jupiter, AM-18 mission in May 1959.NASA photoJupiter (AM-18), suborbital primate flight with Able and Baker, being ready for launch from Cape Canaveral, Florid on May 28, 1959.Photo from the Army Ballistic Missile Agency (Courtesy of ABMA)Able was photographed prior to her flight while in training. (Photo Credit: Photo from the Army Ballistic Missile Agency)VIEW ORIGINAL2 / 4Show Caption +Hide Caption –Able, a seven pound rhesus monkey, is seen in her fiberglass couch being prepared for placement into a capsule for a preflight test of Jupiter, AM-18 mission in May 1959. (Photo Credit: NASA Photo)VIEW ORIGINAL3 / 4Show Caption +Hide Caption –Jupiter (AM-18), suborbital primate flight with Able and Baker, being ready for launch from Cape Canaveral, Florid on May 28, 1959. (Photo Credit: NASA Photo)VIEW ORIGINAL4 / 4Show Caption +Hide Caption – (Photo Credit: U.S. Army)VIEW ORIGINAL

Fort Knox played a role during the Space Race.

Prior to humans going into space, testing was undertaken with various animals. The United States began launching primates into space in 1948 and the first successful mission occurred nearly 11 years later. Jupiter AM-18 successfully launched into space May 28, 1959, and returned with its surviving passengers: Able, a seven pound rhesus monkey; and a squirrel monkey named Miss Baker.

The monkeys were taken to Walter Reed Hospital in Washington, D.C., for examination and found to be in excellent shape. Shortly after, Able was flown back to the Army Medical Research Laboratory at Fort Knox to have an implanted electrode removed.

Unfortunately, the anesthetic used to sedate her for the minor operation caused her heart to convulse and she stopped breathing. Despite diligent efforts by doctors to save her life, including mouth-to mouth resuscitation, Able was lost.

Two Life magazine photographers were there at the time. Their dramatic photographs of attempts
to save Able's life were featured in the June 15, 1959 issue of Life. Her body was preserved and is on display at the Smithsonian's National Air and Space Museum. Able, along with other animals relied on in the early days of space programs, paved the way for future human exploration.